186 Best Bars in China

The biggest and hippest dance and live music venue in Guangzhou, Soho Bar lets you get your jive on to house and electronica. When the sound gets to be too much, chill out on the outdoor terrace. Admission is Y50 to Y100, depending on the night.

In the heritage building where dinner-and-drinks institution The Pawn used to be, and under the umbrella of the new multiconcept space Sophia Loren Hong Kong, is this opulent 1970s-style cocktail bar. From Wednesday to Sunday, live entertainment performances ranging from jazz acts to drag shows take center stage. The outdoor terrace that faces busy Luard Road is a lovely place to take in the buzz of the streets.

Adjacent to Hong Kong's famous outdoor escalator, this SoHo stalwart relaunched postpandemic as an all-day gastropub, pairing wines, beers, and cocktails with British classics like all-day breakfast and shepherd's pie. As the weekend approaches the place gets crowded, but the upstairs balcony is still the perfect perch from which to people-watch.

Run by an eccentric Irishman, Stone The Crows offers some interesting cocktails and a selection of imported beer. Pub grub is also available, if the staff is in the mood.

One of Old Town's most pleasant bars, the civilized Sun Island draws a crowd that's young, alternative, and mostly Chinese. Grab a seat at the wooden bar and strike up a conversation with the friendly staffers.

For a local specialty, ask for the plum wine—it's actually plum liquor—on the rocks.

Stepping into this unpretentious retro bar feels like you're entering an old Wong Kar-wai movie, with its neon-lit signs, vintage cinema seats for chairs, and dingy-chic, graffiti'd walls. The drinks are just as rich in local character—order the homemade plum wine or the lemongrass martini for something unique. 

Run by a rising bar star who has piloted several other bars to award-winning success, this intimate bar specializes in bespoke Japanese-style cocktails. As you might expect, prices are on the high side, but the tailored tipples—like sakura liqueur paired with fresh Japanese fruit and roasted tea—are just as elevated.

This warehouse-style space is way more interesting than the competition. Without the usual gaudy decor, Tango is roomy enough to take the crowds, and often plays some very loud, but good music. Beijing's best midsize live-music venue is on the third floor and (unimaginatively) called Tango 3F.

Oenophiles will discover like minds at this vanguard of the city's burgeoning (and very serious) wine scene. Tucked in an alley off Wellington Street, the bar stocks more than 160 wines. About 40 are always available for sampling through an Enomatic wine dispenser, which the sommeliers use to draw from rare wines without uncorking the entire bottle. Head toward the door's blue glow to find the place. Enjoy the spread of fine cheeses and Italian antipasti before the tasting begins.

The Filipino house band rocks the joint almost every night at the Terrace, but you can also find blues, reggae, and other music here all week. If you need a rest from dancing, slip outside to the balcony for a cocktail and a view over Sea World Square. To sit near the band, expect to pay a weekend mininum charge of Y500 per table.

Also known as Talk of the Town, this restaurant and bar takes up the 34th floor of one of Hong Kong's legendary hotels. Today, it's best known for its Sunday brunch buffet, where live jazz and free-flowing champagne complement daytime views of Victoria harbor. At night, a classic cocktail on the outdoor terrace is one of the area's classier offerings.

For years now, expats have crowded this bar for its Belgian beer, wood-fired pizza, and quiet murmurs of conversation. It does, however, get a bit smoky; if you're sensitive you may want to give this venue a pass. For pasta instead of pizza, there's always Nearby the Tree just 100 yards to the southeast.

One of the coolest party scenes in Shenzhen, True Color attracts international DJs. Music is generally trance or house, and the party usually doesn't break up until dawn.

At the Tsingtao Brewery Bar you can drink from the source. In front of the Tsingtao Brewery Museum, it's cavernous, brightly lit, and packed in high season with convivial gangs of beer-swilling Chinese tourists.

While locals head to the three-story Tsui Wah at any time of the day, the late-night crowds are the happiest. Service is quick and there's a huge menu of typical Chinese fare such as fried rice and noodles as well as western dishes such as steak and pasta. It's noisy and bright, but the crowds just keep on coming. You may even find the odd celebrity chowing down on beef brisket noodles at 2 am.

Twilight is an oasis of cool in the otherwise somewhat-dry Central Business District (CBD). Have the bartender make you a perfect old-fashioned, which you can pair with one of the bar's tasty pizzas.

Coffee shop by day, whiskey bar by night, this stylish spot across from the Portuguese consulate is a haven for whiskey lovers. The selection leans heavily on small, independent producers, primarily from Scotland and Ireland. There are loads of rare bottles to discover here, including hand-filled expressions from Highlands makers Clynelish and Glendronach and Isle of Skye’s Talisker. Two Moons also hosts periodic takeovers from top bartenders across Asia, promising variety whenever you visit.

Tucked away in Jiu Yan Qiao, one of the city's biggest areas for nightclubs, this small and smoky British-owned bar draws in a good mix of young locals and expats. The beer list is constantly expanding, and offers Chengdu's largest selection of Belgian beers. The place is also gay friendly.

A local favorite, Union feels like a neighborhood pub but has the prices and service of a posh cocktail bar. The drink list includes 100-plus concoctions, some classic, others creative; the small-bites menu features elevated American comfort food.

Without a doubt the hottest nightspot in the OCT, V Bar boasts a holographic globe hovering over a circular bar. It's the only bar in town with an attached swimming pool.

Named after the Peruvian painter of pinup girls, this is a colorful, eclectic little spot for a cocktail with its bright walls and 1950s-inspired art. The downstairs bar opens onto the street, while large groups can take over the upstairs lounge.

This intimate cocktail bar has great views from the second-story balcony, as well as an impressive range of whiskeys. The bartender can also whip up inventive cocktails inspired by Hangzhou, like the Foggy West Lake, in which Shaoxing yellow wine is mixed with tequila and a homemade syrup made with Chinese spices.

This Mandarin Oriental bar-restaurant serves Cantonese during the day and Italian at night, and it merits a visit whatever the occasion, be it a business lunch, pizza dinner, or glass of champagne. It shines brightest at “The Counter,” a semi-private, 10-seat bar overlooking Nam Van Lake that can be closed off to the rest of the venue. Here, bartenders serve Mandarin Oriental signatures using interesting local ingredients, like salted plum-infused gin. They are also more than happy to tailor drinks to customers, who sit in tufted leather chairs propped up against a sturdy dark wood bar.

From salsa to hip-hop, you can dance the night away inside this hot spot or enjoy a drink on the outdoor patio while you mingle with Shenzhen's young professional crowd. Tell your taxi driver "Gòuwù gōngyuán, 购物公园" (Coco Park).

By midnight the line outside this club is more like a scrimmage. The maze of low-ceilinged basement rooms hosts a young, hip crowd and a genuinely eclectic mix of music ranging from electro-house to hip-hop to rock-and-roll mash-ups. Volar boasts one of Hong Kong's best sound systems and the clout to draw some of the best DJs from overseas.

The Wanch is a pillar of Hong Kong's live-music scene—from up-and-coming local acts to cover bands across music genres from folk to rock, it's supported them all over the years. The vibe is dive bar, but the operation is slick: the drinks and bar snacks are great, service is friendly and efficient, and prices are reasonable. Performances run all week, but the best time to go is on Friday and Saturday, when the place really begins buzzing.

Hiding in plain sight behind jade velvet curtains inside the Wynn Palace, in the entryway to the wildly popular Lakeview Palace, Wing Lei Bar exudes an air of exclusivity. This intimate lounge, with its gilded bamboo rafters, glittering chandelier, and discreet bar seating, offers a deeply personalized drinking experience (meaning, there’s no menu). The expert bartenders craft cocktails tailored to your tastes, using whichever spirits or flavor profiles you prefer.

This fashionable space is in keeping with the W Hong Kong's chic and fun aesthetic. Wednesday night you can opt for free-flowing wine and a selection of tasty cheeses. The lychee martinis are excellent.

Tucked away on Rua Central near St. Augustine’s Square, Wood House epitomizes the independent cocktail bar scene slowly growing outside the confines of Macau’s casinos. Founded by a local who cut his teeth in Taiwan, this cozy bar fills up fast, especially on weekends, when guests often have to find space on the second floor. The menu features around 20 original cocktails, many made with homemade infusions. Not sure what to order? The bartenders will gladly craft something to suit your taste.